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He told how he asked a supervisor whether Amazon had any plans to improve conditions for workers.

Neil said: “I asked, ‘Did you read that article in the Mirror?’ He said yes, and that they’d had feedback off Amazon to say if anyone asks about it they should say they’re reviewing the target system and their procedures.

“I said, ‘What do you think?’ and he said, ‘I think it’s dire. The way they work you guys is terrible’.”

But Neil said the manager told him that Amazon bosses are secretly hoping the scandal will simply blow over.

He said: “They told me the chocolates were given out to try to raise spirits, to get everybody on board. It’s a couple of sweets per shift to get morale up and make them think they care about us. I found it quite insulting, to be honest.”

After five weeks undercover our ­investigator told last week how “pickers” at Amazon’s newest warehouse, in Tilbury, Essex, were given targets of processing at least 300 ordered items per hour.

And we photographed “packers” asleep at their stations where, if they achieve 120 boxes an hour, they earn seven pence per box. Ironically, seven pence is also the cost of a Celebration.

Staff at Tilbury reported that after our story small chocolate bars and free lunches were now being given as prizes for top-performing staff.

And another Manchester-based worker told us: “They’ve been handing out chocolates, but I’ve heard nothing about how they will make it better.”

Football coach Neil told how he had missed his first game in three years – through exhaustion. He said: “I needed money for Christmas and thought it was half decent pay, enough to tide me over.

“After four days I was dead on my feet. I honestly believe they exploit people’s necessity, their need for money. They feed off that.” Neil even found himself crying on the 20-minute bike ride to the warehouse near his Altrincham home.

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And it was only after our exposé that his teaching ­assistant partner Joanne, 31, understood what he had been suffering.

Neil said: “She read it and said, ‘I’m so sorry. I thought you were exaggerating’.

“We looked at a photo from two days before I started and couldn’t believe it. I’ve lost loads of weight. I felt depressed, to be honest – really depressed.

“It’s the constant pressure they put on you. I was on a final written warning for seven mistakes… out of 4,000 items.” Hundreds of staff and ex workers had similar stories. One former area manager told us: “An employee with cancer needed less walking and wanted to change roles. I tried to help but was forbidden.”

Another told us bluntly: “The last two months have been the worst of my life.”

Amazon said our report was “inconsistent with [the experience of] the many thousand we employ all over Britain.” They added: “There is on-site physiotherapy. We do not monitor toilet breaks.”

Workers are paid as little as 7p per item they pack (Image: Sunday Mirror)

Hundreds of Amazon workers contacted the Sunday Mirror this week to share their experiences. Here are some of their stories:

'One of my staff told me about his struggle with depression in such an environment. He’d had many issues with other managers, with one telling him if he has mental health issues he “should not be here”, as well as telling him to “get out” if he suffers anxiety.’ - Former Area Manager

‘The last two months have been the worst of my life. Every break I have to try and catch some sleep. I’ve seen plenty of people sleep in their cars.’ - Worker, Tilbury warehouse

‘We were told we weren’t allowed to use the toilet outside of scheduled break times.’ - Fulfilment worker

‘It’s only a matter of time before an Amazon driver kills someone. Amazon create routes based on numbers, supposedly to an eight- hour working day. But if you start at 8am you’ll sometimes finish at 8pm or 9pm.’ - Amazon delivery driver

‘Some of us have been placed on report just for sitting down during our shifts.’ - Amazon staffer

‘Working in picking I was always either squatting, or climbing the ladder. It was like taking a 10-hour step class.’ - Ex staff member at US fulfilment centre

‘I’m 28 and healthy. In six weeks there I’ve injured my back, both my knees and am currently nursing an ankle injury after 11 hours standing up for five days a week. I’d estimate around 75 per cent of my colleagues would say the same.’ - Manchester fulfilment worker

‘I was told to work faster and twisted my foot on a ladder. I had to quit, my foot hurt too much to continue under those conditions.’ - Ex Tilbury worker

Staff turn to loan firms in desperation

The number of Amazon staff seeking payday loans has soared 70 per cent in six months, a firm claims.

CashLady said the rise, between May and October, came as the average loan request soared to £437, up £150 from a year earlier. Boss Chris Hackett said: “The reality is employees of the UK’s biggest retailer struggle to make ends meet, despite the unforgiving hours.”

Workers earn £8.20 an hour – 70p higher than the legal minimum outside London. But staff claim deductions and punishing fines handed out by Amazon can leave them taking home much less.

The firm’s drivers have even faced penalties in the past for making their deliveries “too early”.

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Reporter Alan worked for five weeks at Amazon's newest warehouse in Tilbury, Essex (Image: Ian Tuttle)

Clarification on rewards and incentives provided to staff

An Amazon spokesman said: “The events and prizes (e.g. bands, DJs, etc.) [being cited] as a response to the original story are standard practice over the past several years during extra busy times like the peak holiday season.

“Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace for thousands of people across the UK with competitive pay and benefits from day one.

“We are committed to treating every one of our associates with dignity and respect. We don’t recognise these allegations as an accurate portrayal of activities in our buildings.

“As with nearly all companies, we expect a certain level of performance from our associates and we continue to set productivity targets objectively, based on previous performance levels achieved by our workforce.”

Amazon's response to the initial investigation

Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace for thousands of people across the UK with competitive pay and benefits from day one.

We are committed to treating every one of our associates with dignity and respect. We don’t recognize these allegations as an accurate portrayal of activities in our buildings.

As with nearly all companies, we expect a certain level of performance from our associates and we continue to set productivity targets objectively, based on previous performance levels achieved by our workforce.

Associate performance is measured and evaluated over a long period of time as we know that a variety of things could impact the ability to meet expectations in any given day or hour.

We support people who are not performing to the levels expected with dedicated coaching to help them improve.

Associates are allowed to use the toilet whenever needed. We do not monitor toilet breaks.

Amazon has a range of initiatives to support our people if they become ill at home or work.

As well as private medical insurance that is available to all permanent employees, there is on-site occupational health and physiotherapy support, and our Employee Assistance Programme supports people with independent, confidential legal and financial guidance, as well as practical and workplace advice. We have first aid rooms in all of our sites and people are not treated in our canteens.

In the US, as with any workplace, all our sites include medical kits available to employees which includes aspirin, ibuprofen, plasters, etc.